Thesis (MScPhysio (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Children who lack the motor coordination to perform the tasks that have usually been
acquired at their age, given normal intellectual ability and the absence of other neurological
disorders, are classified as having Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) according to DSMIV.
Limited professional resources prohibit individual therapy and these children are being treated in
“gross motor groups” regardless of the fact that this has limited proven efficacy. This study aims to
investigate whether group exercise physiotherapy does improve the gross motor function of children
with DCD aged six to ten years old.
Methods: Thirty-nine children were assessed at pre and post intervention on the Movement
Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) as well as the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting
(PEGS) questionnaire by a blinded research assistant. They were randomly allocated to either a
control (N=19) or an intervention group (N=20). The intervention group was then further subdivided
into groups of four to six per group to attend group exercise sessions of 30 – 45 minutes three times
per week. Group exercises were aimed at improving manual dexterity, ball skills and balance by
incorporating aerobic exercises, strengthening exercises, coordination as well as task specific
activities.
Results: There was a significant increase (p=.028) in the total scores tested by the experimental
group on the M-ABC after the eight week intervention. Manual dexterity skills had improved
significantly (p=.035). There was a trend for ball skills to improve (p=.088) but no improvement was
recorded for static or dynamic balance post intervention. PEGS results indicated that subjects
considered themselves as very competent regardless of their abilities.
Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that an eight week group exercise
program can improve the gross motor skills of children with DCD. It would seem that implementing
such an intervention is a viable option, especially where resources limit the availability of one to one
therapy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Kinders wat „n gebrek aan motoriese koördinasie het om ouderdoms verwante take te
verrig, gegewe dat hulle normale intellektuele vermoëns het en die afwesigheid van ander
neorologiese abnormaliteite, word geklassifiseer as “Developmental Coordination Disorder” (DCD)
volgens die DSM IV. Beperkte professionele menslike hulpbronne voorkom individele terapie en
hierdie kinders word gewoonlik behandel in grofmotoriese groepe, ongeag dat daar min bewyse is
dat dit „n effektiewe behandelings metode is. Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel of „n
fisioterapie groepsoefenprogram „n effektiewe behandelingsvorm is om die grofmotoriese
vaardighede in ses tot tienjarige primêre skool kinders, met „n diagnose van DCD, verbeter.
Metodes: Nege-en-dertig kinders was geassesseer met die “Movement Assessment Battery for
Children” (M-ABC) en die “Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting” (PEGS) vraelys deur „n geblinde
navorsingsassistent. Hulle is in twee groepe nl kontrole groep wat nie intervensie gekry het nie
(N=19) en „n eksperimentele groep (N=20)verdeel deur eenvoudige ewekansige toewysing. Die
eksperimentele groep was verder onderverdeel in groepe van vier tot ses om
groepsoefeningsessies by te woon drie keer „n week vir 30 tot 45 minute. Die doel van die
groepsoefeninge was om die volgende areas te verbeter: handvaardigheid, balvaardigheid en
balans deur die inkorporasie van balansaktiwiteite, spierversterkingsoefeninge, koördinasie sowel
as taak spesifieke aktiwiteite. Die deelnemers was weer geassesseer met die Movement-ABC en
die PEGS na die agt weke lange intervensie program.
Resultate: Daar was 'n beduidende toename (p=.028) in die algehele telling deur die
eksperimentele groep op die M-ABC na die agt weke deelname. Handvaardigheid het beduidend
verbeter (p=.035). Daar was „n tendens vir balvaardighede om te verbeter (p=0.88), maar geen
verbetering was aangedui vir balans na die ingryping nie. Die PEGS resultate was moeilik om te
interpreteer aangesien die deelnemers hulself as baie vaardig gesien het ten spyte van hulle
vermoëns.
Gevolgtrekking: Die resultate van hierdie studie ondersteun die hipotese dat 'n doelgerigte
groepsoefeningsprogram wel die grofmotoriese vaardighede van kinders met „n diagnose van DCD
verbeter. Fisioterapeute kan 'n groepsofeningsprogram met vertroue implementeer waar 'n tekort
aan menslike hulpbronne een tot een terapie beperk.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2811 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Salie, Roshaan |
| Contributors | Unger, M., Statham, S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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